Auto recycling businesses looking to maximize social media, but feel overwhelmed by the idea, have no fear. Doing so is as easy as integrating it into existing e-mail marketing programs.
I think I just heard a collective sigh of relief, so sit back and take note of these easy-to-implement ideas to add power to your promotions.

"I came here to get more information, especially to help with marketing our business," said Cody Howard. " think it's interesting to get a more global perspective and understand other's perspectives within the industry. It also gives me a chance to share my perspectives. It's been really interesting."
This was the first ARA Convention that Howard, from River City Recycling in Virginia, has attended and he was pleased with what he learned.

The 69th ARA Awards Dinner had a reflective spirit to it this year. It began with a solemn moment as the ARA family joined together for a moment of silence in honor of URG's Michelle Alexander's daughter, Jessica, who had passed away at her college only days before the convention. It was evident of the heartfelt concern that ARA members expressed for Michelle and her family.
Outgoing President Randy Reitman expressed his gratitude to fellow ARA members for their support and warm welcome that was extended as he and ARA's CEO Michael Wilson visited their businesses and worked with them throughout the past year.

View from Your Inbox
Auto recycling businesses looking to maximize social media, but feel overwhelmed by the idea, have no fear. Doing so is as easy as integrating it into existing e-mail marketing programs.
I think I just heard a collective sigh of relief, so sit back and take note of these easy-to-implement ideas to add power to your promotions.

The Magic of Change
"I came here to get more information, especially to help with marketing our business," said Cody Howard. " think it's interesting to get a more global perspective and understand other's perspectives within the industry. It also gives me a chance to share my perspectives. It's been really interesting."
This was the first ARA Convention that Howard, from River City Recycling in Virginia, has attended and he was pleased with what he learned.

ARA GIVES RECOGNITION
The 69th ARA Awards Dinner had a reflective spirit to it this year. It began with a solemn moment as the ARA family joined together for a moment of silence in honor of URG's Michelle Alexander's daughter, Jessica, who had passed away at her college only days before the convention. It was evident of the heartfelt concern that ARA members expressed for Michelle and her family.
Outgoing President Randy Reitman expressed his gratitude to fellow ARA members for their support and warm welcome that was extended as he and ARA's CEO Michael Wilson visited their businesses and worked with them throughout the past year.

Fiscal Cliff Hanger
On January 1, Congress preserved most of the Bush-era tax cuts and extended many other lapsed tax provisions. The newly created American Taxpayer Relief Act permanently extends provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRAA).
The act's non-tax features include a one-year extension of emergency unemployment insurance and agricultural programs and yet another "doc fix" postponement of automatic cuts in Medicare payments to physicians. In addition, it delays, until March, a broad range of automatic federal spending cuts, known as sequestration, that otherwise would have been implemented this month.

From There To Here
"As I look back at everything I see the automotive industry starting out just pulling cars with chains, then we progressed to picking them up and letting them swing behind,"Max Spalding, Spalding Auto Parts. "Then we let them ride against the back of the truck. As things went along, we would put an old tire between the truck and the car. Then, came tow-bars which held the car back from the truck.
"As things progressed, we started fastening onto the front tires which seldom causes any damage, and that is where we are at today."
Of course, Spalding is talking about the early days of towing, an important aspect of auto recycling, and at times a controversial topic in today's economic landscape.

Q&A: A BIT OF HISTORY: THE BEGINNINGS OF AUTO RECYCLING
Automotive Recycling magazine (ARM): How did salvage yards come about?
John Vander Haag, Jr.: In the late 1900s to 1920s, junk cars were traded in, given away, or parked out of the way as they didn't have much value. In my town, the Ford garage burned down and all the cars were put into the city dump, in rows and covered with ashes. When World War II (WWII) started, the cars were dug up for their scrap value. Each town had scrap drives for the war effort and many old cars were brought in from the farmers' groves where they had been left to sit. Auto junk yards were just starting, mostly for scrap for the war effort and then for parts.

Plan for Clicks
In today's highly-connected world, effective marketing is no longer about simply broadcasting your message and waiting for the phone to ring. Talking at your customers doesn't fly. The way businesses connect and communicate with their customers and prospects has changed. Consumers want more – they want to engage.
E-mail marketing and social media marketing are great ways to keep in touch, engage customers and prospects, and build relationships. E-mail marketing is a really easy starting place, and remains the best way to get your message heard. Within minutes, you can put together a message that will motivate your customers. Then, social media can help get your message to spread. You can expand the reach of your e-mail campaign beyond the inbox by simply sharing a link to the campaign in your different social media sites. Additionally, adding a "Like" and "Tweet" buttons in the body of your e-mail will make it easy for your e-mail subscribers to share your message with their friends.